# NTSB LAX85FA123: Cessna 120, N9058Y, Irwindale, CA, January 27, 1985 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: January 27, 1985, 15:41 local (23:41 UTC) - Place: Irwindale, CA - Coordinates: 34.089729, -117.959114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0897&lon=-117.9591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 24462 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24462/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA123 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, descent - normal - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, descent - normal - wing,spar - failure,total (cause) - flight control,elevator - separation (cause) - flight control,rudder - separation - Midair collision, cruise - normal - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - fence (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - Nose down, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A CESSNA 120, N9058Y, & A CESSNA 152, N65599, COLLIDED IN MIDAIR IN THE PRACTICE AREA FOR EL MONTE, CA. ARPT. THE TWO AIRCRAFT HAD DEPARTED THE CONTROLLED ARPT WITHIN THREE MINUTES OF EACH OTHER. BOTH HAD ONE INSTRUCTOR & ONE STUDENT ABOARD. THE CESSNA 152 WAS STILL OUTBOUND IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION & THE CESSNA 120 HAD CALLED THE TOWER FOR LANDING INSTRUCTIONS WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE CESSNA 120 BROKE UP IN FLIGHT & INJURIES WERE FATAL TO BOTH PLTS. THE CESSNA 152 MADE A SUCCESSFUL EMERGENCY LNDG. ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR & STUDENT IN THE CESSNA 152 THE ACFT WAS LVL AT2000 FT MSL, HAD JUST COMPLETED A LEFT TURN & WAS ABOUT TO BE IN A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE STUDENT, FROM THE LEFT SEAT, SAW ANOTHER ACFT IN HIS EXTREME RIGHT FIELD OF VISION, APPARENTLY FROM ABOVE. THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CESSNA 152 WAS SHATTEREDBY THE EMPENNAGE OF THE CESSNA 120, WHICH SEPARATED IN FLIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR IN THE CESSNA 152 WAS A NEW INSTRUCTOR & NEW TO THE AREA. TWO VETERAN PLTS WERE ABOARD THE CESSNA 120, WITH ONE CHECKING OUT IN HIS NEWLY PURCHASED ACFT. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N9058Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9058Y-1993-04-07), registration cancelled 1993-04-07, S/N 10246 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 120 - Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10246 - Airframe hours: 33537 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Shy Y. Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 26, 1984, 51 hours before - Departed: EMT, EL MONTE, CA ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N65599](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65599-2013-04-30), registration cancelled 2013-04-30, S/N 15281641, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15281641 - Airframe hours: 29339 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Glen & Helen Aircraft, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 8, 1984, 469 hours before - Departed: EMT, EL MONTE, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N9058Y; age 46; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,500 total - Pilot, aircraft N65599; age 21; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 307 total, 100 in this make and model, 161 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EMT, 4 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19850127001661A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850127001661A), Jan 27, 1985: Cessna 120, Irwindale, CA, Destroyed. In flight collision with prop and nose wheel of 65599. Spar partially severed, aircraft fell to ground in pieces. - [Accident 19850127001662A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850127001662A), Jan 27, 1985: Cessna 152, Irwindale, CA, Substantial damage. Collided with 9058Y while in a shallow bank. Nose gear and propeller strike. Off airport landing with added damage. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.